Quantitative effects of network connectivity on epidemics

Abstract

Epidemics are affected by the connectivity of nodes in networks in addition to the cooperation of infection transmission. We investigate quantitatively the effects of node connectivity on transmission dynamics by comparing epidemic diffusion in null models with gradual connection strength. Results show that: (1) the inhomogeneity of network connectivity accelerates the spreading of epidemics, this phenomenon is more significant in the early stage of propagation; (2) the enhancement of connectivity of homogenous nodes restrains epidemic spreading, and the spreading speed correlates negatively with connection strength; (3) the spreading speed of epidemics does not change linearly with the strength of rich-club property, which means that the connectivity among hub nodes does not appreciably affect disease diffusion.